We are 2 couples (ages 50-66) traveling in Italy for 6 weeks. After Taormina in Sicily, we plan to go to Napoli. As we made plans, we just assumed the morning of departure (April 30, 2016) we would go from Taormina to Catania and fly to Napoli. But I just started trying to research train accommodations. I know it would be about an 8 hour trip, but we could see the southern Italy countryside. My question;
Are there nice first class and club cars available for the trip?
grazie!
frank
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Hi Frank,
Start with the Trenitalia website.
You will be able to board the train from Taormina (the station is off the road below, along the water towards Giardini-Naxos).
Since booking dates only extend into December right now, pick a date for the same weekday that you plan to travel. That will give you a chance to see the schedules and trains that do that run (and give you an idea of the pricing structures as well). Use the Italian spelling of 'Napoli' instead of Naples.
Elsewhere on the site, you'll see the services that are offered on the various trains. You would be looking at the 'Intercity' trains - a 7 hours trip. The other website that can be useful to you is the http://www.seat61.com website.
Essentially, there are 1st and 2nd class cars on the daytime train (no club car). The cheapest seats are those that come online as soon as sales are opened for your dates (Super Economy & Economy). These 'cheap seats' are offered in 1st class too... as it's the conditions of sale, not the class, that is factored into the price.
The really neat aspect of this route is that your train will be loaded onto a ferry, for crossing to the mainland.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
If you have the time, the train is a good idea. If you want to break up the trip, you could spend a night or two in Tropea.
Posted by
427 posts
Don't forget May 1 is a holiday in Italy, it will be very busy. We returned from Sicily this year on April 30 and flights and trains were sold out in March. We drove back and it was great.
Brad